The Asia Cup 2025 got off to a fiery start for Team India, as they recorded one of the most dominant wins in their T20 history, brushing aside the United Arab Emirates with a performance that was clinical, confident, and commanding. Played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the match was over almost as soon as it began, with India wrapping up the contest in just over 17 overs combined, making it their fastest T20 victory ever.
Opting to bowl first after finally winning a toss—ending a curious run of 15 consecutive toss losses across formats—India made the most of the humid Dubai conditions. The possibility of dew later in the evening might have influenced that decision, but it hardly came into play as India’s bowlers did all the damage up front.
UAE, who had shown signs of promise in their recent tri-series games against Pakistan and Afghanistan, looked completely out of sorts against the high-quality Indian attack. Kuldeep Yadav, making a return to the playing eleven after spending time on the bench during the England tour, was the standout performer. The left-arm wrist spinner dismantled the UAE batting order with remarkable ease, finishing with figures of four wickets for just seven runs in a mere 2.1 overs. His deliveries spun and dipped with such control that the UAE batters had no answers.
Shivam Dube played a valuable role as well, picking up three wickets for only four runs, while Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with a wicket of his own. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel did not pick up many wickets but were miserly as ever, choking the scoring rate and building pressure. In the end, UAE folded for just 57 runs in 13.1 overs, their lowest total ever against India in T20 internationals. Extras added a mere two runs, a reflection of how tight and disciplined the Indian bowlers were.
India’s chase was more like a walk in the park. The target of 58 was never going to test the Indian batting lineup, but the manner in which it was achieved sent a strong message to the rest of the tournament. Abhishek Sharma came out blazing, smashing 30 runs off just 16 balls with a flurry of boundaries and attacking intent. His opening partner and longtime friend, Shubman Gill, was equally aggressive, staying unbeaten on 20 off just nine deliveries.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav came in briefly and remained not out on seven, as India wrapped up the chase in just 4.3 overs. In total, India used only 27 deliveries to chase the target, making it their fastest-ever chase in T20 history. It took just 106 balls overall to complete the match.
There was a poetic moment when Shubman Gill hit the winning runs off Simranjeet Singh, a left-arm spinner who once bowled to Gill during his early childhood days. The moment served as a nostalgic full-circle for Gill and a footnote in a match that was otherwise a showcase of Indian dominance.
This match also offered a glimpse into India’s team composition and strategy. With plenty of debate around the playing eleven, India chose to go with both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as their wrist spinning options. Shivam Dube’s inclusion at number eight gave them added batting depth, while Jasprit Bumrah led the pace attack as the lone specialist quick.
The wicketkeeping spot was another area of interest. While Gill opened the batting ahead of Sanju Samson, it was Samson who retained the gloves over Jitesh Sharma. These decisions may have raised eyebrows before the match but seemed well-justified by the end of it.
In truth, this match resembled a glorified net session more than a competitive fixture. The gap in skill, experience, and execution between the two sides was evident from the first over. UAE had no answers to India’s discipline with the ball and aggression with the bat. What was expected to be a potential banana peel turned into a routine dismantling.
India now shift focus to their next and far more anticipated encounter—against arch-rivals Pakistan on September fourteenth. After such a dominant opening performance, the mood in the Indian camp is likely to be confident but focused. While this win came with ease, the real tests are just around the corner.
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